According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest group of people not in the labor force are those who don’t want a job, a remarkable statement on the nation’s work ethic. The federal job counter said that 85.9 million adults last month didn’t want a job, or 93 percent of all adults not in the labor force.

Yet I guarantee you every one of them wants housing, food, clothing, and electronic gadgets or other entertainment–all of which takes money.

The most compassionate thing for anyone who fits that description is to allow them to be cold and hungry.* It is emphatically not compassionate to encourage someone in self-destructive behaviors that also harm the entire culture—it is wrong to steal from those who work hard, in order to support those who have no desire to use their God-given gifts to help their neighbors.

(* Obviously this is a general statement, and I absolutely agree there are those who cannot work, for whom we should care. This is aimed at those who are completely able to work, but who either don’t like their current choices, or simply want others to pay to take care of them while they live however they choose.)

The same revelation from God that so often talks about our moral obligation to care for the poor says if a person will not work, neither should he eat–it is a recognition that by false charity we can actually do more and lasting harm than a bit of temporary hunger–andit will encourage others with a similar sinful tendency toward sloth to choose the same path.

On just about every contentious issue: Immigration, “Race”, Charity (welfare), etc., certain people cloud the discussion by claiming every situation should be handled the same way. That is simply not true–if our goal is to authentically help people–and betrays either a tragic lack of wisdom, or a hidden agenda.

Too bad we can’t get the identities of those who took this survey. Every single one of those 93% who said they don’t want a job should have whatever government “assistance” programs they’re on cancelled, immediately.

We were made to display God’s glory by working, as He has worked. We are to use our gifts to improve upon the Creation around us, and to demonstrate love for our neighbors by serving them. Those who ignore this calling should be graciously allowed to experience the pain of their own choices.